Batman/Superman [2019] #2 - DC Comics

BATMAN/SUPERMAN No. 2, November 2019

Shifting a respectable 43,107 copies in September 2019, it seems that Joshua Williamson’s decision to ‘promote’ Shazam from being “the last character revealed” within this mini-series to have been infected by The Batman Who Laughs to the first, was actually a wise one. For despite the California-born writer being partially influenced by the recent release of the superhero's film by “New Line Cinema” rather than any substantial improvement to his storytelling, the opening battle between Bill Parker’s co-creation, Kal-El and the Dark Knight irrefutably delivers a sense-shattering start to this twenty-two page periodical.

Indeed, the California-born writer arguably pens a piece portraying the Caped Crusader at his very best, as Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego finds himself caught in the middle of a bout of fisticuffs between two of “DC Comics” heaviest hitters, and yet still seems to hold his own against the super-crazed Captain Marvel utilising all of his fighting smarts, as well as a near super-sonic ‘borrowed’ Bat-wing from an incarcerated Batman Who Laughs; “The jet was just the delivery method, punk! I’m always the weapon!”

Surprisingly, Superman is shown in a similar light too, one moment angrily remonstrating with his ‘poisoned’ former friend following the “world’s mightiest mortal” endangering a large group of innocent bystanders with a lethal shower of broken masonry, and then refusing to deliver a coup de grâce in the next, when the psychotic Shazam transforms himself back into the highly vulnerable Billy Batson just before the big boy scout’s eye laser beams discharge. Such a pulse-pounding picture of the lead two protagonist’s overcoming their failings genuinely pulls the reader in and promotes a palpable aura of menace to the proceedings, which repeatedly looks set to depict the pair being badly beaten by the hauntingly homicidal Captain Marvel.

Disappointingly however, once this all-too brief adrenalin ride comes to an unsatisfactory resolution, and this comic’s audience are rather jarringly jolted to the Fortress of Solitude in the Bermuda Triangle, the American author’s narrative debatably goes badly off the rails. Admittedly, it’s not too difficult to stomach the lengthy, dialogue-heavy discourse between a badly bruised Batman and Superman following their rather necessary regrouping, but it’s rather hard to believe that the best course of action they can think of is to release the Batman Who Laughs from his ultra-secure captivity in the hope the Dark Knight’s “evil counterpart” will lead them to their foe..?

The regular cover art of "BATMAN/SUPERMAN" No. 2 by David Marquez & Alejandro Sanchez